Parking meter



Sept. 27, 1955 C. L. PARTIN PARKING METER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 5,1951 TIME XPIRED lfr com Fig 3 !NVENTOR.. Charles L.PwrZ'I/n POS ATTORNEY S Sept. 27, 1955 c, PART|N 2,718,954

PARKING METER Filed July 3', 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Charles L. Parfiin 2,718,954 Patented Sept. 27, 1955 PARKING METERCharles L. Partin, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to The Superior Switchboard& Devices Company, Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July3, 1951, Serial No. 234,942

8 Claims. (Cl. 194-84) The invention relates generally to parkingmeters, and more particularly to a parking meter of the type shown in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,416,213, issued February 18, 1947 to George H.Partin.

It is a primary object of the present invention to improve and simplifythe construction of the parking meter shown in said Patent No.2,416,213, and to render its manual resetting operation more positiveand less apt to cause jamming or other interference with properfunctioning of the meter mechanism.

More specifically, it is an object to improve and simplify theconstruction and operation of the coin engagement lever, with the resultthat a single lever will engage coins of different denominations tocause them to actuate the pawl which resets the indicator selectively tomeasure various time intervals.

Another object is to improve the construction of the coin engagementlever so that it performs the function of releasably holding a coin inthe coin display window until the lever is actuated by a subsequent coinduring the operation of resetting the indicator.

A further object is to provide improved means for maintaining the depthof the coin channel formed behind the setting plate substantially equalto the thickness of a coin to prevent overlapping and jamming of coinstherein. A still further object is to provide a novel means forpreventing overswinging of the setting plate by a quick twist of theoperating handle, thus preventing the possibility of resetting theindicator to show more time than is paid for, and also preventingpossible damage to the gearing of the clock mechanism which drives theindicator back to zero.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, improvements,constructions and arrangements comprising the present invention, apreferred embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings anddescribed in the specification as exemplifying the best known mode ofcarrying out the invention, the scope of the invention being defined inthe appended claims.

Referring to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of theinvention is shown by way of example;

Figure 1 is an interior view of the meter taken substantially on line 11of Fig. 2, the parts being shown at the start of the resetting operationwith a nickel coin leaving the coin entry and another nickel coin heldat the coin display point;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1, with the setting platerotated its full amount to reset the indicator;

Fig. 4 is an interior view of the meter showing the setting rack and theindicator attached thereto, taken substantially on line l-1 of Fig. 2,but looking in the direction of arrows 4, 4;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary View similar to Fig. 1, showing the position ofthe parts just after the resetting operation has been started by anickel leaving the coin entry, and

substantially on line showing a previously deposited penny beingreleased at the display point;

Fig. 6 is'a similar view showing the position of the parts when theresetting operation is nearly complete and a previously deposited nickelis being released at the display point;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing a penny in the position ofreleasing a previously deposited nickel from the display point;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5, showing the operation ofthe centrifugal pawl which prevents overspeeding of the setting plate;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view as on line 9-9,

Fig. 5; and I Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the drivingpawl, showing how a coin engages its cam surface to raise the pawl.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, one side of the meter housing isindicated generally at 11 and may have a curved flange 12 at its lowerend for mounting on the top of a supporting post. The other side orcomplementary part of the housing is adapted to mate with and be lockedto part 11 to form a closed housing, in a more or less conventionalmanner, and is not shown. The upper end of the housing part 11 may havean observation window 13 through which the indicator and the relatedtime scale of the meter may be viewed in a usual manner.

The manual operating handle 14 is located on the exterior of the housingpart 11, and is secured on the setting shaft 15 which is in turn securedto the setting plate the screw 17. The shaft 15 is journaled in aflanged bushing 18 on which a coin plate 19 is mounted, and a washer 20spaces the coin plate from the housing 11. A coin entry plate 21 ismounted within the housing above the setting plate 16 and in the sameplane therewith, and the plates 16 and 21 form the front surface of acoin channel the back surface of which is formed by the coin plate 19,the depth of the channel, that is, the distance between the plates 16and 19, being slightly greater than the thickness of the thicker coinused. This spacing is maintained by a spacer pin 16a attached to settingplate 16, and by the offset periphery 16b of the setting plate slidablyengaging the coin plate 19, as best shown in Fig. 9.

The coin entry back plate 21 is positioned across the inner end of acoin entry slot or passage 22 through the housing, through which a coinC may be inserted and pressed fiatwise against the entry plate 21 whenceit will drop into the coin channel between the plates 16 and 19.

As shown in Fig. 2, the clock mechanism which drives the indicator maybe mounted in a case 24, and the driven shaft 25 of the clock mechanismis clamped by a nut 26 (Fig. 4) to a semicircular time plate 27 whichrotates with the shaft. The arcuate setting rack 28 is secured to theplate 27 in spaced relation thereto by means of rivets 29, and theindicator 30 may also be secured rigidly to the plate 27 by one of therivets 29. The clock mechanism drives the plate 27 and the indicatorfrom a reset position toward the zero position of Fig. 4 at a constant.speed regulated by an escapement mechanism in a conventional manner.

The time expiration flag 31 is pivoted at 32 on the mounting plate 33which is secured by screws 34 to the clock mechanism case 24. This plate33 has mounting 'holes 35 at opposite sides which normally fit over themounting studs 36 on opposite sides of the coin plate 19 (Figs. 1 and3). When the meter is operating the flag 31 is normally out of sightbelow the window 13. As the indicator is driven to zero position by theclock mechanism,

" it engages a pin 37 on the lower end of the expiration flag,

and raises the expiration flag 31 into view behind the window 13. Whenthe indicator 30 forces the pin 37 against the top edge of plate 33, theclock mechanlsm is stopped.

Referring to Fig. 1, an arcuate plate 38 is secured to the coin plate 19alongside of the periphery of the setting plate 16. This plate 38 issubstantially the same thickness as the coin channel formed between theplates 16 and 19, and may have its upper end extend beneath the coinentry back plate 21. The plate 38 is provided along its inner edge withcoin retainer points or projections 39 and 40 which are engaged by coinspassing through the coin channel. As shown in Fig. l, a nickel coin Chas just entered the coin channel from the coin entry 22 and is engagingthe coin retainer point 39.

A single coin engagement lever 41, best shown in Figs. and 9, is pivotedat 42 on the coin plate 19, and located between plates 16 and 19, theupper rear end portion 43 being offset to extend through a hole 44 inthe plate 1%, and the extreme rear end thereof being yieldingly urgeddownwardly by a tension spring 45 located behind plate 19 and having itslower end attached to the bottom edge of plate 19. The front portion ofthe lever 41 is curved downwardly and forms a yielding track engagingthe edges of the coins traveling through the coin channel, and the lowerfront end of the lever is provided with a curved projection 46 whichnormally engages the edge of a coin for holding it in front of a displaywindow 47, commonly known as the Scotch eye.

The lower portion of the arcuate plate 38 is overlapped by a guide plate48 which helps to guide coins to the display point, and the extremelower end of the arcuate plate 38 has a coin retainer point 49 whichcooperates with the projection 46 to hold a coin at the display pointwhere it can be viewed through the window 47. Immediately below thedisplay point is a coin chute 50 for receiving coins released from thedisplay point and guiding them into a suitable coin box (not shown).

A setting pawl 51 is pivoted at 52 to the setting plate 16, the pawlbeing provided with an angular flange 53 (Fig. which fits behind theplate 16 on the pivot stud 52. The front edge of the flange 53 is curvedat 54 to provide a cam surface which engages the edge of a coin held bythe retaining point 39 to raise the front projection 55 of the pawl intoengagement with one of the teeth 56 of the rack 28, in the manner shownin Fig. 5. The pawl 51 is normally held down against the periphery ofplate 16 by a spring 57 having its lower end secured in a hole in thesetting plate 16, so that if the plate 16 is rotated without a coinpresent in the coin channel, there is no driving connection with therack 28 which sets the indicator.

Referring to Fig. 1, if a nickel coin C has been inserted through thecoin entry and is supported on the coin engagement lever 41, apreviously deposited penny coin P will be held at the Scotch eye 47 byengagement with the projection 49 of the plate 38 and the projection 46of the lever 41. As the setting plate is rotated (counterclockwise asviewed in Fig. 1) by turning the setting handle 14, the cam edge 54 ofthe pawl 51 rides upwardly on the edge of the coin C to engage theprojection 55 of the pawl with one of the teeth 56, thus providing adriving connection between the setting plate 16 and the rack 28 to whichthe indicator 30 is connected.

Further rotation of the setting plate causes the coin engagement lever41 to yield and allows the coin C to pass by the projection 39, asindicated in Fig. 5. This yielding movement of the lever 41 moves theprojection 46 sufficiently to release a penny P which is being held atthe Scotch eye, and drop it into the chute 50. Such yielding movement ofthe lever 41 is not suflicient to release a nickel coin held at theScotch eye, but when the nickel coin C engages the projection 40, duringthe further rotation of the setting plate the lever is moved inwardly asuflicient amount to release a nickel coin C at the Scotch eye, asindicated in Fig. 6.

If a penny coin P is inserted through the coin entry, when the settingplate is rotated the coin will pass by the point 39 without raising thepawl 51, but will engage the point 4*!) to raise the pawl intoengagement with one of the teeth 56 on the rack 28. Thus the rack isrotated only a fraction of the amount which it is rotated by a nickelcoin, and this amount may be related to the time scale to reset theindicator to show twelve minutes for a penny as compared with sixtyminutes for a nickel coin. The engagement of the penny P with theprojection 40 imparts sufficient yielding movement to the lever 41 torelease either a nickel coin C at the Scotch eye, as indicated in Fig. 7or a penny coin at the same location.

As the handle 14 is rotated clockwise, thereby rotating the settingplate 16 counterclockwise as viewed in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8,tension is put on the return spring 58 connected at one end to thesetting plate and at its other end to a restraining plate 59 which issecured to the studs 36 opposite to the arcuate plate 3% and overlappingthe edge of the setting plate. An arcuate slot 60 is provided in thesetting plate, and studs 61 and 62 on the coin plate 19 limit therotation of the setting plate in both directions. As shown in Fig. 3,the stud 62 limits the rotation of the setting plate 16 in acounterclockwise direction during the resetting operation, and when thehandle 14 is released and the spring 58 returns the setting plate, itsreturning movement is limited by the engagement of the stud 61 with theopposite end of slot 60, as shown in Fig. 1.

A novel pawl 63 is provided for preventing overspeeding of the settingplate by a quick twist of the handle 14, so as to prevent thepossibility of inertia advancing the indicator to show more time than ispaid for, and also to prevent possible damage to the gearing of theclock mechanism. The pawl 63 is pivoted at 64 on the setting plate 16and is urged radially inward of the plate by spring 65. The pawl 63preferably has an angular flange 66 which is adapted to engage the inneredge of restraining plate 59 when the outer end of the pawl 63 is thrownoutward by centrifugal force against the tension of the spring 65. Theinner edge of plate 59 may be provided with a series of teeth 67 forpositively engaging the flange 66 of the pawl, in the manner indicatedin Fig. 8. Accordingly, if the handle 14 is given a quick twist when thepawl 51 is engaged with the rack 23, the pawl 63 will swing outwardly bycentrifugal force and engage the plate 59 to prevent overspeeding of thesetting plate 16 and consequent inertia overswinging the rack 28 whichis operatively connected thereto.

In order to insure that the coin channel between the plates 16 and 19 ismaintained at the depth determined by the spacer pin 16a and the oflsetperiphery 16b of the setting plate, so that the channel is slightlydeeper than the thickness of the thickest coin being used (for example anickel), thus permitting such coins and coins of lesser thickness topass, through the channel without overlapping and jamming, a fiat springplate 68 is secured at one end to plate 16 by the screw 17 and its otherend resiliently presses against the outer peripheral portion of thesetting plate 16 radially adjacent to the pawl 51. The spring plate 68rotates with the setting plate 16, so that the outer end of the springplate is always pressing the outer peripheral portion of the settingplate toward the coin plate 19 along the coin channel which has theeffect of maintaining a constant depth of the channel, that is, thedistance between the plates 16 and 19.

in the operation of the improved meter, assuming that a nickel coin Chas been inserted through the coin entry slot, as in Fig. l, and a pennycoin P was previously deposited and is held at the Scotch eye, as thehandle is rotated the pawl 51 is raised by engagement with the coin C tomove the pawl end 55 into driving engagement with a tooth 56 on the rack28, as shown in Fig. 5 As the pawl pushes the coin C forwardly past thepoint 39, the lever 41 yields sufficiently to disengage the projection46 from the penny coin P and it drops into the coin chute 50. After thecoin C passes point 39 and the coin P drops, the lever 41 is returned tonormal position by the spring 45.

As the handle 14 is rotated further, rotating with it the rack 28 andindicator 30, the coin C next engages the retainer point 40 and pressesthe lever 41 inwardly as in Fig. 6. As previously mentioned, engagementof the coin with the point 40 causes the lever 41 to yield a greaterdistance than when the coin is at point 39, so that while a nickel coinin the Scotch eye is not released by a nickel coin passing point 39, anickel coin C in the Scotch eye is released by a nickel coin C passingthe point 40.

When the handle 14 has rotated the setting plate 16 to the position ofFig. 3, as limited by stop stud 62, the indicator will have been rotatedthrough approximately 45 or halfway across the operation window 13 to avertical position, and the time scale (which may be on or adjacent tosaid window) may show one hour opposite the indicator. Deposit ofanother nickel coin followed by rotation of the handle will rotate theindicator through approximately another 45 or a total of 90, andindicate two hours on the-time scale, and further movement of theindicator by the handle is prevented because the rack 28 has beenadvanced to a position where there are no more teeth presentedforengagement by the pawl 51.

As shown in Fig. 7, if a penny coin P is deposited and moves by theretainer point 39 it is retained by engagement with the point 40, sothat after the pawl is rotated and raised by the coin P into drivingengagement with a tooth 56, further rotation will cause the lever 41 toyield sufficiently to release a penny coin from the Scotch eye, orrelease a nickel coin C as shown. The relatively short distance that theindicator is rotated during the final rotation of the setting plate willshow a fractional part of an hour on the time scale, as for example,twelve minutes.

The rack 28 is provided with a series of teeth 56 to be selectivelyengaged by the pawl 51 for rotating the indicator to shown one or twohours on the time scale when one or two nickel coins are deposited, orfor rotating the indicator fractions of an hour when penny coins aredeposited. Thus two hours may be put on the meter by accumulatingfractions of time by depositing a number of penny coins, or bydepositing combinations of one nickel coin and one or more penny coins.Obviously, the meter can be arranged to operate with coins of differentdenominations than nickel and penny coins, and the indicator and timescale can be arranged to show different periods of time than hereindescribed by way of example.

As shown in Fig. 5, as the pawl 51 rotates past the coin entry backplate 21, the pawl prevents entry of another coin fro-m the coin entryslot into the coin channel, and as the pawl and setting plate 16continue to rotate, the inwardly offset outer periphery 16b of the plate16 passes under the bottom edge of the plate 21, thus effectivelypreventing entry of another coin into the coin channel. Accordingly,jamming of coins in the coin channel, by insertion of additional coinsin the entry before the setting operation is completed, is avoided.

The present meter construction provides an improved and simplifiedconstruction which renders the manual resetting operation of theindicator more positive and less apt to cause trouble or improperoperation. The single coin engagement lever provided the dual functionof yieldingly holding the coins at the retainer points and releasablyholding the coins at the coin display window or Scotch eye. As thesetting plate rotates, the spring plate 68 maintains the depth of thecoin channel in the area radially adjacent to pawl 51 slightly greaterthan the thickness of the thickest coin being used, and the centrifugalpawl prevents overspeeding of the setting plate, thus avoiding damage tothe clock mechanism and the obtaining of excessive or unpaid-for time.

.In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because suchwords are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to bebroadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein is by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention, the construction, the operation anduse of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new anduseful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, andreasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled inthe art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a firstcoin retainer element at one side of the entrance end of said channel todetain deposited coins of predetermined size, a second coin retainerelement intermediate the channel ends and at said one side of saidchannel to detain coins of smaller size, a coin engagement leverpivotally mounted on the coin plate having a portion extending fromentrance to exit channel ends along the other side of said channelyieldingly forcing a deposited coin of either size toward saidretainers, a coin engaging detent element adjacent the exit end of saidchannel on said one side thereof, means projecting from an end of saidlever portion adjacent and cooperating with said detent normally holdinga previously deposited coin of either size at a display point at theexit end of said channel, and said cam being engageable with a depositedcoin retained by one of said retainer elements to force the depositedcoin past the retainer element while the pawl is being rotated intoengagement with the rack, thereby actuating the lever end projectingmeans to move the same away from said detent to release a previouslydeposited coin held thereby at the detent.

2. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a coinretainer projection element at one side of said channel to detain coinsof predetermined size, a coin engagement lever pivotally mounted on thecoin plate having a portion extending from entrance to exit channel endsalong the other side of said channel yieldingly forcing a deposited cointoward said retainer element, a coin engaging detent element adjacentthe exit end of said channel on said one side thereof, means projectingfrom an end of said lever adjacent and cooperating with said detentnormally holding a previously deposited coin at a display point at theexit end of said channel, and said cam being engageable with a depositedcoin retained by said retainer element to force the deposited coin pastthe retainer element while the pawl is being rotated into engagementwith the rack, thereby actuating the lever end projecting means to movethe same away from said detent to release a previously deposited coinheld thereby at the detent.

3. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a firstcoin retainer element at one side of the entrance end of said channel todetain deposited coins of predetermined size, a second coin retainerelement intermediate the channel ends and at said one side of saidchannel to detain coins of smaller size, a coin engagement leverpivotally mounted on the coin plate having a portion extending fromentrance to exit channel ends along the other side of said channel forengaging the edge of a deposited coin, means yieldingly urging saidlever portion to force a deposited coin of either size toward saidretainers, a coin engaging detent element adjacent the exit end of thechannel on said one side thereof, means projecting from an end of saidlever portion adjacent and cooperating with said detent normally holdinga previously deposited coin or" either size at a display point at theexit end of said channel, and said cam being engageable with thedeposited coin retained by one of said retainer elements to force thedeposited coin past the retainer element while the pawl is being rotatedinto engagement with the rack, thereby actuating the lever endprojecting means to move the same away from said detent to release apreviously deposited coin held thereby at the detent.

4. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a coinretainer projection element at one side of said channel to detain coinsof predetermined size, a coin engagement lever pivotally mounted on thecoin plate having a portion extending from entrance to exit channel endsalong the other side of said channel for engaging the edge of adeposited coin, means yieldingly urging said lever to force a depositedcoin engaged thereby toward said retainer element, a coin engagingdetent element adjacent the exit end of said channel on said one sidethereof, means projecting from an end of said lever adjacent andcooperating with said detent normally holding a previously depositedcoin at a display point at the exit end of said channel, and said cambeing engageable with a deposited coin retained by said retainer elementto force the deposited coin past the retainer element while the pawl isbeing rotated into engagement with the rack, thereby actuating the leverand projecting means to move the same away from said detent to release apreviously deposited coin held thereby at the detent.

5. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a firstcoin retainer element at one side of the entrance end of said channel todetain deposited coins of predetermined size, a second coin retainerelement intermediate the channel ends and at said one side of saidchannel to detain coins of smaller size, a coin engagement leverpivotally mounted on the coin plate having a downwardly curved coinengaging portion extending from entrance to exit channel ends along theother side of said channel yieldingly forcing a deposited coin of eithersize toward said retainers, a coin engaging detent element adjacent theexit end of said channel on said one side thereof, the curved lever coinengaging portion terminating in a lateral projection adjacent andcooperating with said detent normally holding a previously depositedcoin of either size at a display point at the exit end of said channel,and said cam being engageable with a deposited coin retained by one ofsaid retainer elements to force the deposited coin past the retainerelement while the pawl is being rotated into engagement with the rack,thereby actuating said lateral lever projection to move the same awayfrom said detent to release a previously deposited coin held thereby atthe detent.

6. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the. pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, a coinretainer projection element at one side of said channel to detain coinsof predetermined size, a coin engagement lever pivotally mounted on thecoin plate having a downwardly curved coin engaging portion extendingfrom entrance to exit channel ends along the other side of said channelyieldingly forcing a deposited coin toward said retainer element, a coinengaging detent element adjacent the exit end of said channel on saidone side thereof, the curved lever coin engaging portion terminating ina lateral projection adjacent and cooperating with said detent normallyholding a previously deposited coin at a display point at the exit endof said channel, and said cam being engageable with a deposited coinretained by said retainer element to force the deposited coin past theretainer element while the pawl is being rotated into engagement withthe rack, thereby actuating the lateral lever projection to move thesame away from said detent to release a previously deposited coin heldthereby at the detent.

7. in a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited rack in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, spacermeans on the setting plate slidably engaging the coin plate determiningthe channel spacing between the coin and setting plates slightly greaterthan the thickness of the thicker coin used, a spring plate rotatablewith the setting plate and having one end secured to the setting platerotatable mounting and having its other end spring pressing against thesetting plate radially adjacent the mounting of the pawl means on thesetting plate to maintain a constant depth of the channel determined bysaid spacer means, a first coin retainer element at one side of theentrance end of said channel to detain deposited coins of predeterminedsize, a second coin retainer element intermediate the channel ends andat one side of said channel to detain coins of smaller size, a coinengagement lever pivotally mounted on the coin plate having a portionextending from entrance to exit channel ends along the other side ofsaid channel yieldingly forcing a deposited coin of either size towardsaid retainers, a coin engaging detent element adjacent the exit end ofsaid channel on said one side thereof, means projecting from an end ofsaid lever portion adjacent and cooperating with said detent normallyholding a previously deposited coin of either size at a display point atthe exit end of said channel, and said cam being engageable with adeposited coin retained by one of said retainer elements to force thedeposited coin past the retainer element while the pawl is being rotatedinto engagement with the rack, thereby actuating the lever endprojecting means to move the same away from said detent to release apreviously deposited coin held thereby at the detent.

8. In a parking meter having a coin channel and manually rotatable pawlmeans engageable with a rotatable indicator setting rack by the pressureagainst the pawl means of a deposited coin in the channel; a coin platemounted on the meter forming the back of the channel, a setting platespaced from the coin plate rotatably mounted on the meter forming thefront of the channel, the pawl means being pivotally mounted on thesetting plate and having a cam projecting into said channel, spacermeanson the setting plate slidably engaging the coin plate determiningthe channel spacing between the coin and setting plates slightly greaterthan the thickness of the thicker coin used, a spring plate rotatablewith the setting plate and having one end secured to the setting platerotatable mounting and having its other end spring pressing against thesetting plate radially adjacent the mounting of the pawl means on thesetting plate to maintain a constant depth of the channel determined bysaid spacer means, a coin retainer projection element at one side ofsaid channel to detain coins of predetermined size, a coin engagementlever pivotally mounted on the coin plate having a portion extendingfrom entrance to exit channel ends along the other side of said channelyieldingly forcing a deposited coin toward said retainer element, a coinengaging detent element adjacent the exit end of said channel on saidone side thereof, means projecting from an end of said lever adjacentand cooperating with said detent normally holding a previously depositedcoin at a display point at the exit end of said channel, and said cambeing engageable with a deposited coin retained by said retainer elementto force the deposited coin past the retainer element while the pawl isbeing rotated into engagement with the rack, thereby actuating the leverend projecting means to move the same away from said de tent to releasea previously deposited coin held thereby at the detent.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,342,017 Fox June 1, 1920 2,161,046 Hitzeman June 6, 1939 2,304,012Neff Dec. 1, 1942 2,323,402 Jones July 6, 1943 2,416,213 Partin Feb. 18,1947

